Seriously, what kind of thoughts were running through your head when you read that title? I can’t begin to imagine. Let me end any confusion by making it clear that I’m talking about why I love people, human beings, my friends, my neighbours, people I don’t even know.
First of all, I love you because I choose to.
I’m a big believer that we make choices all the time, and our choices matter. They impact how we feel, how we approach life, and how we treat others. Essentially, I make the choice every day to love my fellow human beings, those that are easy to love, like my awesome wife, and those that are harder to love, like that guy who seems to do everything he can to rub me the wrong way.
Yes, there are lots of people in this world that might not seem worthy of being loved. I prefer to think that everyone deserves to be loved, and forgiven for those things that may have seemingly made them unworthy of love.
Secondly, I love you because you’re amazing.
I’m constantly blown away by the ways human beings reach out to others with love and compassion. Sure, we could all do a better job of it collectively. But, I see so many glimpses of hope that we’re inching closer to our potential. I know there’s a long way to go, but I like the trajectory we’re taking. I refuse to believe that we’re on a negative trajectory. I think we’re heading towards something great.
Lastly, I love you because I feel called to.
There’s something inside each of us that nudges us towards empathy, towards trying to bring joy to others. It seems to be inherent that we seek the company of others and that we try to make others happy. Sure, there are moments when that’s not the case, and there are a few people where this desire may be more latent, or seemingly non-existent. But again, I choose to see the overall desire for all of us to make this world a better place, and the best way to do that, is one person at a time.
So, go out there. Make someone happy. Love someone.